Integrity and Beyond!!!!! - Part One

Two more days until Spring break starts and we are going to make it!!! I have been having fun with my Easter egg hunt again this year (see my post from last year here and download some free new quotes from the Life on the Fly Store). I have also been doing some exciting lessons on Integrity.  I found a great idea from my friend and previous guest blogger, Rebecca Atkins, on her blog here. Check out her original description of the lesson and write her a nice comment. :o) After being inspired, I tweaked the lesson to include some of my own activities and objectives. I taught the lesson in first grade, but I could have delivered it in second or third grades with no problem. I will be posting my original Kindergarten Integrity lesson later this week.

First, I started out with my Integrity definition pre-survey (D is the correct answer) and noted the baseline data.

Then, I connected the definition of Integrity to some current events with this great news story found on the Today Show website.

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We discussed the story as a class and did an oral retelling activity to incorporate some literacy objectives and emphasize the behaviors showing Integrity.  I ended our class discussion with the cliffhanger question, "Do you think the boys earned the $50,000 or not?!" and got the students' predictions.

Next, we had a blast with a kinesthetic activity "Balloon, Balloon" (see my Ordinary Objects post here) where the students got to pass the balloon around until I said FREEZE.  The lucky student catching the balloon read the behavior their hand was touching, and we decided if it showed Integrity or not.  I had TWO rules to make this game a fun learning experience rather than a free-for-all mosh pit.
1)  Feet had to stay planted on the ground as if they were rooted to the ground
2)  We had to be silent/quiet while passing the balloon (after all, trees don't talk!)

We discussed behaviors such as lying, stealing, cheating, following the rules, admitting you are wrong, recycling, littering, etc.  I wanted to incorporate Earth Day themes since that celebration is coming up later this month!!

It was really fun! I had also created a Smartboard slide where we could sort the behaviors visually to Integrity/No Integrity sections on the board, but we didn't really have time to do both.  We ended the game by brainstorming other behaviors that show Integrity at school and at home.

Finally, I introduced our flower activity.  The students enjoyed creating the petals and decorating their plants and pots. I even incorporated some Science objectives and had early finishers label the different parts of the plant, which the class had been learning about in class.  Check out the finished products to the left and below!

 Happy Counseling and Enjoy! ~ Angela